"Sir, what do you think of this poem?" Bai Jing asked with hopeful anticipation.

Wang Tingzhi nodded repeatedly. "Hmm... 'Since time immemorial, all sages have been lonely, Only drinkers leave their names behind...' Excellent, truly excellent. Where is this person now?"

"He's currently at the academy."

"Oh? The one you rescued earlier?"

"Exactly."

"For a rogue cultivator from the countryside to possess such poetic talent..." Wang Tingzhi frowned in contemplation.

"Sir, do you think... this person might qualify to study at our academy?" Bai Jing voiced her thoughts.

Wang Tingzhi remained silent for a moment. "Admission to the academy isn't solely based on such things. Background is equally important."

"I understand, but it still feels like a pity. His temperament is also... quite exceptional." Bai Jing couldn't help recalling how he had handled Lan Qing's provocations during the banquet.

This was precisely why Bai Jing disliked Lan Qing. Lan Qing had excellent family background, handsome appearance, and solid cultivation foundation. Unfortunately, his behavior was too childish for Bai Jing to ever develop any fondness for him.

Wang Tingzhi stood up and hesitated for a long while. "This person has some connection with Xiangshan Academy. Bring him here as an unofficial disciple for evaluation."

Bai Jing was overjoyed. For a rogue cultivator, being accepted as an unofficial disciple of Xiangshan Academy was already an immense blessing. Unofficial disciples at least gained qualifications - to become official disciples, or even personal disciples. Though given his background as a rogue cultivator, such possibilities seemed unlikely. Yet there had been precedents.

Years ago, the Mount Shushan sect had proclaimed to the world: "Everyone may tread the path to immortality!" These earth-shattering words had stirred up tremendous waves, inspiring countless people to yearn for the path of cultivation.

Yet now, Mount Shushan had fallen, vanished like smoke. In its place, numerous forces had descended upon Zhongzhou like starving tigers. Though these factions schemed against each other, they displayed remarkable unanimity on one matter: prohibiting mortals from cultivating. This decree tightly bound mortals' dreams of pursuing longevity. Since then, the path of cultivation had become as distant and unattainable as a legend to ordinary people.

Being admitted to a Confucian academy was like catching pie from the sky - an incredible stroke of luck.

After bidding farewell to Wang Tingzhi, Bai Jing quickly found Li Xuanxiao to share the good news. She had expected him to be overwhelmed with joy. Instead, Li Xuanxiao remained unusually calm, even showing some hesitation.

"What's wrong?" Bai Jing asked, nearly losing herself in his beautiful eyes.

Li Xuanxiao said, "Thank you for your kindness, but... I must decline."

Bai Jing frowned in confusion, her lovely eyes narrowing as she unconsciously stepped closer. "Why? This is a tremendous opportunity! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to enter Xiangshan Academy? Others couldn't obtain this chance in several lifetimes!"

"I have reasons I cannot explain. I appreciate your kindness."

Bai Jing grew even more perplexed and wanted to press further, but Li Xuanxiao had already changed the subject.

Several days later, feeling his injuries had mostly healed, Li Xuanxiao bid farewell to Bai Jing, preparing to leave the academy.

......

By the Weishui River below the academy, morning dew splashed onto stone steps as white hooves trampled through them. In the gentle breeze and morning light by the river, Li Xuanxiao stood holding a white horse's reins, his white robes reflecting the shimmering water.

Li Xuanxiao, dressed in white and leading a white horse, bowed to Bai Jing. He then raised his eyes to gaze at her, yet averted his glance to the river the moment their eyes met.

Bai Jing felt her heart stir as if a heavy stone pressed against her chest, rendering her speechless. She had never experienced such feelings before. Since receiving news of Li Xuanxiao's departure the previous night, her thoughts had been in turmoil, disrupting even her cultivation practice.

Li Xuanxiao's thin lips parted as if to speak, but he hesitated and remained silent. The clatter of hooves crushed his unspoken words as Bai Jing watched his figure gradually disappear into the rainy curtain.

Bai Jing sighed softly, gazing at the vanished silhouette for a long, long time before finally turning away. It was then she noticed something in her pocket. Reaching in, she pulled out a white handkerchief embroidered with green bamboo. Beneath it was a line of small characters:

"The cicadas chill, drearily shrill. We stand face to face in an evening hour, Before the pavilion, after a sudden shower... Parting lovers would grieve as of old. How could I stand this clear autumn day so cold!... Though we may meet again some day, What's the use of charming scenery anyway? Even if there were feelings as magnificent as they could be, To whom could I speak of them?"

Bai Jing looked up as light rain began to fall from the sky. She felt an emptiness in her heart. But what could she do? She buried these budding emotions deep within.

......

Three months later, Bai Jing unexpectedly encountered Li Xuanxiao again while on a mission outside. Suddenly detecting the scent of blood, she looked up to see a figure falling from a cliff. The aura felt strikingly familiar.

Sword in hand, Bai Jing leaped up and caught the falling figure - it was indeed Li Xuanxiao. Now his white robes were stained with blood, his entire body covered in wounds.

Before Bai Jing could ask anything, four pursuers arrived in succession. Seeing Bai Jing's Xiangshan Academy disciple uniform, they paused.

Bai Jing swept them with a cold glance.

"A disciple of Xiangshan Academy? Why obstruct our business?" The leader drew his sword.

Bai Jing recognized them as disciples of the nearby Changlei Sect and said coldly, "This person is my close friend. Why are you attacking him?"

"Close friend? This man is a remnant of Mount Shushan!"

A remnant of Mount Shushan!?

"Based solely on your words?" Bai Jing clearly didn't believe them.

Mount Shushan had been destroyed thirty years ago. Though remnants of its disciples still existed, they were rarer than priceless treasures.

The Changlei Sect disciple leader snorted coldly. "See for yourself - this is the jade token of a Mount Shushan disciple."

Bai Jing recognized the token as indeed authentic. Connecting this with past events - how could a mere rogue cultivator compose such poetry or possess such bearing? Why had he hesitated and ultimately refused her offer to join the academy, soon leaving after bidding farewell...

Everything suddenly became clear to her.

"Well? Do you still intend to shelter a remnant of Mount Shushan?"

Bai Jing held her sword single-handedly, her eyes flashing. In the next instant, a streak of white light leveled everything around them. Then thin red lines appeared on the pursuers' necks as their heads toppled from their bodies.